Committees

The British Pain Society currently has seven Committees; Cancer Pain, Communications, Education, Executive & Finance, Scientific Programme, Patient Liaision and Science & Research. The Committees are multidisciplinary in membership and reflect the various activities of the Society. Below is a description of the Committees and a list of members for 2008-2009.

Cancer Pain Committee
The Cancer Pain Committee held its inaugural meeting on 7th September 2006. There are several documents/guidelines on cancer pain management; however, these do not help address the place of specialist pain services adequately. It is known that collaboration between palliative care and pain specialist clinics is limited and as result access to such specialist services is poor.

This committee aims to address these aspects, foster collaboration between pain and palliative care services and aid clinicians involved in management of pain in patients with cancer.

Communications Committee
The Communications Committee is responsible for ensuring that information and publications produced by the Society are made accessible to the relevant audience in an appropriate format. The Communications Committee oversees the development of the Society website, publications, and quarterly Newsletter.

Education
The remit of the Education Committee is to deliver the IASP Core Curriculum for Education to those professionals involved in the management of pain through the inter-professional sharing of knowledge and experience. In accordance with this remit, the committee has developed the ‘Learning in Pain Series’; the series will run as a number of study days over three years (2006-2009). This programme will provide the opportunity for small groups to take part in lectures and interactive workshops around key issues in pain management highlighted within the IASP curriculum

Executive & Finance
The Executive and Finance Committee is made up of the Officers of Council. The Committee is responsible for matters concerning finance, administration and staffing, in addition to finalising the agenda for Council meetings. The committee meets prior to each Council meeting.

Scientific Programme Committee ASM 2009
The Scientific Programme Committee oversees the programme for the Society's Annual Scientific Meeting to ensure that the scientific content is of the highest possible standard and that it reflects current theory and practice in all aspects of pain management. This committee is also responsible for managing joint meetings with other organisations.

Patient Liaison Committee
The Patient Liaison Committee is responsible for ensuring that the views of patients are represented within the Society. Through the Patient Liaison Committee, the Society is now working with patient representatives to improve patient information and to ensure that patients are consulted during the decision-making processes of the Society. The Committee has recently played a leading role in reviewing the British Pain Society's information for patients publication 'Understanding and Managing Pain' and plays a key role in the relationship between the British Pain Society and the Voluntary Sector.

Science and Research Committee
This committee is responsible for implementing the Society's scientific and research strategies. Work of the Committee has ranged form advising the NHS and private health care organisations to supporting individual research projects of Society members. The Committee also makes decisions on the allocation of bursaries and awards to members of the Society.